Jacqueline K. Barton '74 elected to Institute of Medicine

Jacqueline K. Barton '74, Arthur and Marian Hanisch Memorial Professor and professor of chemistry and chair of the Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering at Caltech, has been elected to membership in the Institute of Medicine (IOM), one of the highest honors in the fields of health and medicine. As the health arm of the National Academies, the IOM is recognized as "a national resource for independent, scientifically informed analysis and recommendations on human health issues." From Caltech:

"Barton's research group examines the chemical and physical properties of DNA. Her lab has made fundamental discoveries with regard to the way electrical charges travel through DNA structures. This basic research has led to the development of novel DNA diagnostics and to insights into how DNA is damaged and repaired, an important issue with respect to aging and cancer. Barton has also designed a range of transition metal complexes as probes of DNA damage. Her work provides a foundation for the design of new chemotherapeutics."